...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad

 No loss: The Toronto Star’s Bob Hepburn is perturbed that “a Canadian hero” is retiring from a high-profile position, and Canadians aren’t according her the admiration she deserves. The hero in question: UN “human rights” Czarina, clueless Lou Arbour:

Next Monday, Louise Arbour will close out her four-year term as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, considered one of the most politically sensitive and thankless jobs in the world.

She will leave her Geneva-based position and return home to Canada having earned the respect and admiration of human rights advocates around the globe.

In her role, she was fearless and outspoken. She ruffled feathers.

And because of that, she has apparently so upset Prime Minister Stephen Harper that his government is snubbing this remarkable woman, who can easily be described as a true Canadian hero.

Indeed, U.S. and European media reports suggest Harper torpedoed her chance of a second term by failing to support her because of his displeasure with her criticism of the Bush administration.

Arbour has been called many things during her long career as a jurist and human rights champion.

Amnesty International, for example, describes her as a "forceful and formidable" advocate for the rights of minorities, women and the oppressed. Universities around the world think so highly of her work that nearly 30 of them have awarded her honourary doctorates.

At the same time, though, she has been the target of hateful attacks.

She has been branded by some Rwandans as a corrupt war criminal, "a shame to all Canadians." Protesters in the Mideast have heckled her and stoned cars in which she has been riding.

And in Ottawa, she was bitterly criticized last week by Treasury Board President Vic Toews, who called Arbour "a disgrace."

Through it all, Arbour has remained calm and cool.

"It would be surprising or unimaginable to do this work for four years and to depart with unanimous accolades from all players, you would have to wonder about the quality of work," she told the UN Human Rights Council in March when she announced she would not seek a second term.

For her part, Arbour insists there was no diplomatic pressure in her deciding not to seek a second term.

Still, her departure will be a loss for Canada and all those who promote human rights. ...

A loss for all those who are pushing for human rights under sharia, no doubt. For those who aren’t, Louise’s retirement from that UN snake pit can’t come soon enough, and is cause for revelry and celebration.

Posted by: scaramouche at 09:38 | link | comments (5)

Comments:

#1  26 June 2008 - 11:23

 

Gee, the OIC lost its favourite dhimmi-in-residence at the UNHRC. I don't care where she ends up- Geneva, Paris, Lahore- one just hopes that she never sets foot back in Canuckistan. One can just imagine her weighing in on Steyn and Levant. She and Babs having herbal tea of an afternoon.

/shudder

Anonymous

#2  26 June 2008 - 11:33

 

Maybe she can get a job with the OIC--or al Jazeera.

scaramouche

#3  26 June 2008 - 14:10

 

I sent the Minister a commending email, and got a very gracious response in reply.

Anonymous

#4  27 June 2008 - 02:23

 

Maybe she can be head of the Western Guard - she's like a female Don Andrews, with a thicker moustache.

Anonymous

#5  27 June 2008 - 15:15

 

The lineup for employment with Al Jazeera is located at the CBC HQ in Toronto.

The CBC is the official incubator for Al Jazeera's English broadcast journalists. Kinda fits, doesn't it?

Anonymous

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